Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on June 2013

With a name reminiscent of bovine urine, Calpis is a hard drink to swallow for many Anglophones in Japan. But Japanese folks have been quaffing it since way back in 1919, when the cultured milk drink was sold only as a concentrate. Now it has gone the route of every other drink in the conbini, appearing in a multitude of varieties to satisfy the hyperactive urges of your modern consumer. That’s where Mister Donut comes in. We’re not exactly sure what the connection is between a cloudy yogurty beverage and a ring of sugary carbs, but the Calpis x Mister Donut (¥136-147), available in soda and strawberry flavors, has to be worth a try. Doesn’t it?